In Iraq, the same reasoning leads him to support the creation of a democracy with Islamist elements.

However, tribal, Islamist and royalist elements opposed to the regime do not share their perspective.

These groups include socialist, Islamist and tribal elements with differing goals.

Experts here say there is no evidence of what diplomats called a worst-case scenario - a split between pro-Western and Islamist elements in the army.

Also during the military build up for Gulf War II there was a heightened terrorism threat by extreme Islamist elements with several attacks targeting foreigners.

At the same time, he was also an acceptable candidate to Islamist elements within Indonesia, having grown up with a Muslim school.

"You do here, as anywhere in the world, have some Islamist elements who think bin Laden is great," a Western diplomat said.

And there is an Islamist element incubating religious hostility toward America and the West, particularly among disaffected, unemployed Saudi youth.

There have also been cases of persecution by radical Islamist elements, mainly in the Gaza Strip.

He asked them about the rising tide and disaffection of Islamist elements in the West.